US Army chief visits China amid THAAD missile and South China Sea tensions

Asia-Pacific, News, US August 16, 2016 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Army chief of staff says China should not feel threatened about the deployment of THAAD in South Korea as it is a defensive measure against North Korea

BEIJING (China) — The U.S. Army chief of staff is visiting China amid tensions over America’s decision to deploy a powerful missile defense system in South Korea and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Milley arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to “meet with the senior leadership of the People’s Liberation Army to discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues and identify ways to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, while also constructively managing differences,” the army said in a statement.

Gen. Mark A. Milley met with his Chinese counterpart, General Li Zuocheng, and other senior People’s Liberation Army leaders amid strong Chinese protests over the decision to base the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), system south of the South Korean capital, Seoul.

Gen. Mark Milley told his counterpart that the coming deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to South Korea is only meant to defend South Korea and the U.S. against North Korean ballistic missiles.

Mark A. Milley said that China should not feel threatened about the deployment of THAAD in South Korea it is a defensive measure.

China and Russia say the system would threaten security, stability, and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Russian and Chinese officials also say that the move would put their military assets within the range of US radars.

The THAAD deployment has drawn strong protests from China. China’s Defense Ministry has already said it will consider measures to counter it.

THAAD “is a defensive measure to protect South Koreans and Americans from the North Korean ballistic missile threat and is not a threat in any way to China”, the statement paraphrased Milley as saying.

He insisted the powerful missile defense system is not intended to track missles inside China but to defend attacks from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Chinese state media have published daily attacks against the U.S. and South Korea over the missile defense system, and China has canceled events involving South Korean entertainers. China also appears to be withholding support at the United Nations for condemnations of North Korea’s missile programs.

China and the United States have been at odds over the disputed South China Sea as well.

Milley said the U.S. wants to maintain open channels of communications with China’s military to “reduce the risk of crisis or miscalculation and candidly address differences”, the statement added.

Milley “reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to adhere to international rules and standards and encouraged the Chinese to do the same as a way to reduce regional tensions”.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims.

US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, left, speaks during a meeting with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Gen. Li Zuocheng, second from right, at the Bayi Building in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016. Photo: AP

U.S. Army chief of staff visits China, South Korea, Japan, Hawaii

Gen. Mark A. Milley is visiting the Asia-Pacific region from Aug. 15 – 23 during which he will meet with his Army counterparts and other senior officials in China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

This is Milley’s third visit to the region since becoming the Army chief of staff in August, 2015. He is visiting China and Japan for the first time as the chief and is making his second visit to the Republic of Korea.

Milley will end his visit in Hawaii, where he will meet with U.S. Pacific Command leaders and visit Soldiers from the 8th Theater Sustainment Command and the 25th Infantry Division.